In a seemingly ironic turn of events, Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens, is the latest member of the Legislature to be accused of sexual misconduct.

Garcia is now one of many current and former legislators from the Los Angeles area to be accused of and investigated, with Raul Bocanegra and Matt Dababneh having resigned in just the past few months, and Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, still under investigation.

A visible leader of the burgeoning #MeToo movement in state government, Garcia was one of over 140 women who work in California politics that signed a letter back in October calling attention to the “pervasive” culture of sexual harassment. “Speak up, speak loud, and know there is a community of people who will support you,” the letter said.

In the past month, Garcia successfully worked with Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, on legislation providing whistleblower protections to legislative staff who wish to report unethical behavior. The legislation had been held up for years in the Legislature and only gained momentum because of the national focus on sexual harassment.

“You’re not standing alone,” Garcia said on the Assembly floor in support of the bill.

Well, last week, Politico reported the experience of Daniel Fierro, a former legislative staffer for Assemblyman Ian Calderon, D-Whittier, who claims that in 2014 an intoxicated Garcia cornered him at an Assembly softball game and groped him. An unnamed lobbyist also told Politico of a May 2017 incident in which an allegedly inebriated Garcia made similarly inappropriate advances toward him, which he said included an attempt to grab his crotch.

On Feb. 9, in response to these reports, Garcia took unpaid leave as the claims against her are investigated, saying “any claims about sexual harassment must be taken seriously, and I believe elected officials should be held to a higher standard of accountability.”

Garcia is certainly right about that. We hope the allegations are promptly and appropriately investigated and that she accept responsibility for her actions if they occurred. Given her own professed high standards for public officials, her constituents should expect nothing less from her.

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